Letter-box



W. EVANS, Jr.

Letter-BOX.

Patented M ay 11,` 1880I gitmssrs:

V N. PETERS. FHOI0-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. n, C4

. specification and accompanying drawings, in

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EVANs, JE., or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,509, dated May 1.1, 18480.

Application filed December 23, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, WILLIAM EvANs, Jr., of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Letter-Boxes,which improvement is fully set forth in the following Which- Figure l is a front View of the box embodying my invgntion. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof' in line x cc, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a portion in line y y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists in forming the door with guards, which cover and protect the parts of its hinges.

It also consists of the door having the edges of its side pieces covered by pockets, for preventing the entrance of letters between said pieces and the walls of the box.

It also consists of means for applying the fastenings of the box in a firm and safe manner.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a letter box formed of side pieces, a, end pieces, b, door c, and dishing roof d, properly bolted' or secured together. In the front of the roof d is an opening or inlet, e, and on the upper side of said roof are ears a', to which is pivoted a door 'or cover, B,.which hangs perpendicularly over said opening or inlet c.

It will be seen that the cover B and inlet e are most conveniently accessible, there being nothing above the door to interfere with its ready operation or obscure its locality, as it may be said to occupy the Ahighest position of the box, whereby there is no difficulty in determining the whereabouts ofthe inlet ofthe box for dropping letters, as is evident.

On the inner faces of the side pieces, a, of the box are pockets G, which are of segmental form, and provide spaces for the reception of the side pieces, D, of the door or lid E of the box, it being noticed that as the door opens or closes the pieces D slide in the spaces of said pockets G, and the edges of said pieces D are overhung by the pockets, so that the faces of the pockets serve as guards for preventing letters entering between the pieces D and sides of the box when the door is closed or jamming and injuring the letters when the door is being opened.

The door E is hung on ears j', projecting from the lower side of the iioor, and the doorbutts g, which are pivoted to said ears f, have cast with them a covering-piece or guard, h, which incloses the ears j' and prevents rain reaching the same. Said guard also abuts against the floor of the box when the door is opened, thus preventing strain thereon, this being assisted by the lower ends of the side pieces at the door having shoulders k, which abut against the front end, b, of the box when the door is opened.

From the inner face Vof the roof depends a guard, F, which projects behind the inlet e, and serves to prevent the insertion of implements and ngers for abstraction of letters without interfering with the proper dropping of the letters.

In the side pieces, a, of the box are countersunkopenings m, and on the outer face of said pieces are bosses G, which coincide and communicate with said openings m. The ends of the fastening-straps n are passed through the bosses Gr and openings m, and the nuts p, fitted on the ends of the straps, are tightened, thus securely connecting the letter-box to the lamp or other post. Y

It will be seen that the nuts p occupy the countersunk openings without projecting into the box and affording lodgment for the letters. The bosses provide enlarged contact-surfaces for the fastening-straps, and increase the strength ofthe hold thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The door or lid E, provided with butts g and a guard, h, said butts g being pivoted to the earsj'of the box, and the guard 7L ooverand coincident bosses G, in combination with ing said ears, substantially as and for the purthe fastening-straps n und nuts p, substanpose set forth. tiully as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The letter-box having pockets for the WILLIAM EVANS, JR. 5 side pieces of the door or lid, substantially as Witnesses:

and for the purpose set forth. JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM,

3. The box with countersunk openings 'm A. P. GRANT. 

